Staff NVH CAE Engineer

Rivian•Irvine, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Rivian is seeking a Sr. Staff NVH CAE Engineer to provide technical leadership for the virtual development of world-class vehicle NVH performance. This role will define and execute CAE strategies that connect vehicle-level customer targets to subsystem requirements, design decisions, and validated product outcomes across current and future Rivian programs. The ideal candidate is a recognized technical expert in automotive NVH CAE who can solve ambiguous, high-impact problems; influence decisions across engineering organizations; and elevate the capability of the broader NVH team. They will combine deep simulation expertise with sound engineering judgment, experimental correlation, and a passion for delivering refined customer experiences.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering required; specialization in Noise and Vibration, Acoustics, Dynamics, Mechanics, or a closely related discipline preferred.
10+ years of progressive NVH CAE experience, preferably in automotive or other complex vehicle/product-development environments.
Expert knowledge of finite element and vibro-acoustic simulation, including full-vehicle model development, modal analysis, frequency response, transfer path analysis, and correlation to physical test data.
Advanced proficiency with CAE pre- and post-processing tools such as ANSA, HyperMesh, META, HyperView, or equivalent; and solvers such as Nastran, OptiStruct, Abaqus, or equivalent.
Experience with Statistical Energy Analysis tools such as VA One or equivalent, and familiarity with NVH test and data-analysis tools such as Siemens Simcenter Testlab, LMS, HEAD Acoustics, or equivalent.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical workstreams, influence cross-functional decisions, and deliver solutions under program timing constraints.
Strong Python or comparable scripting experience for simulation automation, data processing, visualization, and workflow improvement.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical tradeoffs to technical and non-technical audiences.
Demonstrated commitment to quality, safety, curiosity, accountability, and continuous improvement

Responsibilities

Lead the development, integration, and application of full-vehicle NVH CAE models, including structural, vibro-acoustic, and statistical energy analysis models.
Define simulation methods, target cascades, and technical strategies for complex NVH attributes such as road noise, powertrain/driveline vibration, structure-borne noise, airborne noise, and sound-package performance.
Drive robust correlation between CAE predictions and component, subsystem, bench, and vehicle test data; translate findings into clear, actionable design direction.
Lead root-cause analysis using methods including modal analysis, frequency response analysis, transfer path analysis, operational deflection shapes, and dynamic stiffness assessment.
Serve as a technical authority in cross-functional design and program forums, aligning NVH performance with vehicle targets, timing, cost, mass, durability, manufacturability, and system constraints.
Establish scalable CAE workflows, model-quality standards, automation, and best practices that improve analysis speed, fidelity, and repeatability across programs.
Develop and review technical recommendations, reports, and executive-ready summaries that enable timely, data-driven decisions.
Mentor and develop NVH and CAE engineers; raise technical standards through constructive review, knowledge sharing, and hands-on coaching.
Model Rivian Compass Values by asking why to identify root causes, staying open to diverse perspectives, zooming out to optimize vehicle-level outcomes, building together across functions, and over-delivering for the customer